From Prince to Steward
A tale freshly told of the Gondorian
Dirnaro becomes Arathis\' Squire, as per charge of the Prince Imrahil.
Dol Amroth: Knights\' Tower - Hall of the Faithful
The vaulted ceilings of this, the entrance hall to the Knights\' Tower, are picked out in glorious frescoes of the Ainur at play in the bliss of Valinor. Its eastern and western walls are columned with smooth pillars that reach to the arches above--buttresses that support the ceiling. In each of the alcoves formed by these columns there sits a statue--for this is the Hall of the Faithful of Numenor! Built to honour the heroes of the Men of Belfalas it was--and those heroes look upon it now from down through the ages in eternal stone.
In the daylight, windows of stained glass portraying further scenes of the Blessed Realm--but these featuring the Great Men of Old--shed their prismatic glories on the Hall below. The great chandeliers hang silent and unlit.
Contents:
Dirnaro
Arathis
Obvious exits:
Corridor of Guard What bustle that belongs to Amroth\'s day speeds with winter\'s hurry to the early twilight hours and so too scurry the denizens of that city, coated and hasty in the last of their tasks--a prodded keenness to flee to manor\'s haven ere the crisp of nightfall setting a certain clamor upon the Prince\'s streets. And yet it is not so in the hall of his requian, whose stones admit to none of time\'s passage, even when stage to shadow\'s play and torchlight\'s flicker. Such comport marks too the Sons of the Order within the hall for their common bounds are none of quotidian flux, being rather one of Oath uttered in witness of the Gods timeless. Among those sworn warriors, staid against a statue of those deceased, stands Hir Arathis of the Isilrim, born of many of lines from the Beor of Old, and those fateful kin between. He is silent. [Dirnaro(#31829)] Dirnaro enters the Hall, his expression dark as often it is through no fault save a descent from brooding and grim-faced men. He shares words with a passing squire after a moment, speech hushed in these hallowed halls. But all too soon their words are ended and Maglorion, the Sea-Warden\'s Son, continues into the Hall with footfalls that echo despite themselves. Some resemblance of face and height bears between the Knight and the object of his stare: a block of marble carven in the shape of a man, classic in its make, standing changeless in alcove to the hall. Yet the features of the Isilrim are more fell than the immortalized, albeit he too stands unmoving. That this man is of flesh is however soon proven for as footfall’s cadence resounds across the walls, he stirs, and turns to its cause. The same stare that considered the statue now rivets upon the nearing of a Squire. Eyes track him, framed with the furrow of expectancy. [Dirnaro(#31829)] This must be the man whom Dirnaro was bade to come and seek, and so he does seek and indeed find the Knight and pay his respects as he approaches. His facial expression changes little and it seems it may be set that way permanently, save for when he pauses to pay the appropriate respect to Arathis. He holds his tongue, waiting to be given leave to speak. Lively stare remains upon the Squire, all the more cool at his pause. Assessment flurries across the lad, unashamed as silence reigns for length between the two Swansmen. And then, as some curiosity etches upon the brows of the Isilrim Knight: “What think you of martial skill, Squire of the Blue? Is there Virtue to it?” The query flows flatly, some measure between the Knight’s words, so as to burden them. [Dirnaro(#31829)] \"There is Virtue to swordsmanship,\" Dirnaro replies without hesitation, \"To keep the mind sharp and the arm strong in defence of greater virtues.\" He glances upwards at the statue a moment before carrying on, \"But martial skill should not reign, for martial skill without virtue to temper it is a black thing indeed.\" “And yet Virtue serves none but itself. Or what say you, is Justice a Virtue for sake of aught other than being just?” In like quickness flies the retort of the Isilrim Knight and his stare, affixed yet upon the Squire before him, takes but moment’s pass to follow the lad’s glance to the statue. He continues then, though no lightness of carriage suggests negligence to the question already posed. “A bust of my father, who was Marshall to this Order ere your birth. He failed in combat, and was struck by the Southrons. Should we say that he lacked Virtue, if swordsmanship is such?” [Dirnaro(#31829)] \"That should not be said,\" Dirnaro answers with a shake of his head, giving response to the last question first, \"For even the greatest of swordsmen can be struck down by a fell blow. Even one such as the Knight-Marshall.\" To the second question, Dirnaro gives thought before he answers, \"Virtue for the sake of virtue is not a thing falsely adhered to. One\'s honour is judged in action swifter than it can be judged in words, and to be just is to be fair and honourable.\" “Nay, but let us not tame our understanding for mere sake of charity. Is it not enough to note that sharp minds and strong arms, as you say, belong too to the Enemy?” comes the bass of the Isilrim Knight, austere and wreathed in shades of governance. “And, as they too possess masters of the blade, that swordsmanship is of itself no Virtue, and as all Virtue serves none but itself, that it is not Virtue?” Arathis here pauses, and the silver eyes of the Dunadan narrow strictly upon his interlocutor. “And what when Justice proves dishonorable? Is it then no Justice? Our Enemy, we know, is of no Virtue but shall we deny such to the Gods? Or hold you that the sinking of Numenor was both honorable and just?” The taller Knight stands over the Squire, and a certain point begins to tinge his tongue. [Dirnaro(#31829)] \"It is not for me to dwell ever on the past when the future holds the treachery of the Enemy and his hosts threatening to march on the White City itself. Justice is truth and fairness to oneself as much as it is to others. I have said that swordsmanship is only a virtue so far as it hones the mind and teaches things other than the art of death and injury - such as when indeed to hold thy blade and not draw it with haste.\" The Squire shows know outward sign of intimidation, whether he feels it or not. \"Dwell on the past?\" Impatience bends the lips of the Knight, such sentiment well imbuing his tongue: \"Ignorance is not incumbent to any Son of Gondor and it is sin to a Swansman of the Prince. Yet here you speak yet of Justice as virtuous for aught other than being just--for being truth and fairness \'to oneself\', whatever you may mean by it-- and too that swordsmanship is Virtue insofar as it serves to hone the mind and teach the non-martial, although Virtue serves none but itself, and many a honed mind, knowledgeable in the arts of when to hold and draw a blade, serve wickedness just so well. \"You have much to learn.\" With this, the Isilrim Knight fluidly reaches to his baldric: before hidden by the folds of his mantle, a second blade emerges from his side, sheathed simply in black leather, and he holds it before him. Silently, he offers it for consideration, ere continuing in word: \"Be sure that swordsmanship is no Virtue and when you understand such, come tell me why for only then shall you know this gift of our Prince upon thee, who none surpass in knowledge of Virtue. \"Nay, Dirnaro of the Maglorion, though I shall teach you much of swordsmanship, I shan\'t do so to teach you aught of Virtue. That is to be taught otherwise. \"And it shall be so, for you are now my Squire.\" [Dirnaro(#31829)] Dirnaro contemplates this for a moment, as he seems wont to do in most things. His eyes fall upon the blade held out before Arathis, eye alighting upon the designs it bears - his grim expression only now betrayed by interest. The youth that is so often absent from his eyes returns in the briefest of sparks as he turns his attention back towards the Knight. \"These things I shall learn, then, and swiftly - but not with too much haste as to fail in seeing the point of the lesson. But as honesty, too, is a virtue I shall speak the truth. \"It pains me to leave the side of the Prince for we have journeyed far together and much has been taught by him that I value greatly. But in those years I have also come to respect and admire his wisdom and it is in the spirit of that wisdom that this choice has been made. But let my lamentations at passing out of the Prince\'s full tutelage not be seen as a slight against you, for I believe much is to be learned from Hir Isilrim and I am keen to learn it.\" The iron visage of the Isilrim Knight calms as Dirnaro speaks, and flesh again marks him against the statue aside a gauntleted hand grasps the lad’s shoulder. “I would ask of you little more than honesty. “And should you admire the Prince’s wisdom, know it is by his charge that you are now my Squire. You serve him yet, whether at my side or his own.” The hand releases then, and once more does the Dunadan consider the lad before him: “First then, may you dwell on the past, as you say it. Reflect alone the reasons of the Gods for sinking Numenor, and return to me once you have answer suitable. “Until then, I hail you, noble Squire of the Swan.” With this, and the raise of his palm to dismiss the lad, Arathis turns once more to the statue., Stairway , and Prince\'s Council Hall